The first day of the Salone Satellite[1] was bustling with excitement as crowds descended upon the hundreds of booths that make up this inimitable Milan Design Week[2] event. Here, the hottest talent appeared to travel in packs representing their home countries, and Australia, Belgium, Chile, and Finland really caught our eye with their sleek and sustainable designs — as did the local Italians! Hit the jump to find out more about some of our favorite pieces featured at this event.

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Maija Puoskari[4] of Finland caught our eye with Terho and Tatti. Inspired by acorns, these ethereal LED lamps[5] create a dream-like glow. The lamps are available as suspended pendants or table lamps, and are made from locally sourced Finnish alder and opal-white mouth blown glass.

Bottle Up[6] is a collaborative project by Giuseppe Casuccio and Valerio Palmieri of Italy. The idea came to them after talking with a local restaurant owner who had too many glass bottles lying around waiting to be recycled. The pair developed a solution to upcycle these bottles, using a detachable LED luminaire that can be affixed to any glass bottle (pictured with Campari bottles). A small hole in the top allows the liquid to evaporate over time, also changing the color and quality of the light as time passes. Bottle Up can also be used for diffusing fragrances.

Crooked House is a piece of antique art design by HillsideOut[7], a two person team from Bologna, Italy. The design is an investigation into construction vs. destruction. It started with wooden columns from 1820, old chestnut wood, and salvaged metalware which were transformed into a curio cabinet. Each piece is a unique work of art, carefully assembled by hand from diverse components, and restored so that they may tell a story. HillsideOut salvages their materials from antique markets, donations, and demolished buildings.

Wenchuman[8] returns to the international stage with his latest work: Endless Table. Endless Table is whatever you want it to be: from as small as three pieces, to as big as your imagination. Each piece is a small, modular cube supported by a single angled leg. The table gains structural stability as more blocks are combined. Pieces are made from sustainably sourced pine and available in three colors; natural, white, and black.

Invaders by Studio BAAG[9] is a visual interpretation of a tree overtaken by shelf mushroom. The Invaders cabinet is a striking piece for any room without typical hardware. Thin slices from the Bagolaro tree represent the mushrooms and act as handles from top to bottom.

Danielle Trofe[10] is exhibiting her vision for a greener future with the Live Screen[11], a scaled down version of a living wall that is appropriate for residential use. The system is self-sustaining with a hydroponic growth medium.

LUM[12] is an exciting new product from QStudio of Chile. LUM is a copper modular panel system: with solid and light components. Copper is abundant in Chile and its natural properties make it very attractive for interior applications; it’s a natural anti-bacterial and develops a patina with time, making every installation dynamic. The panels are responsibly manufactured by inmates at Colina prison, contributing to their rehabilitation and integration back into society.

Pulik is a minimalist paper towel holder by Reeta Cagnani from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Pulik has a magnet at the base and attaches to ferromagnetic surfaces like refrigerator doors, kitchen surfaces, and range hoods.

Rui Alves[13] is an up and coming Portuguese designer who learned the craft of cabinetmaking from his father and grandfather, and has now expanded into furniture design. The sofa show here is made from local Ash wood and treated with basalt water varnish and upholstered with 100% wool.

Sugarcloud[14] is a made from 100% cotton, hand-crocheted, molded, and hardened using a water and sugar mixture. Dingflux[15] has taken tradition Polish craft methods and modernized them.

Melbourne Movement[16] aims to garner international attention for cutting edge Australian design. The Nest is a pendant light fixture by Edward Linacre[17]. The piece boasts an intricate composition of sustainably sourced bamboo veneer taking the form of honeycomb architecture. The interlocking form is lightweight, can be flat-packed, and can be easily assembled by the end user.

Tipi[18] is an exciting modular furniture kit from Laura Kasiers of Belgium. Tipi has four different shapes (square, hexagon, small triangle, large triangle) that attach and re-attach with snaps, only limited by your own imagination. Pieces are made of recycled felt and local Belgian materials, hand sewn and detailed.

Xtool is a brilliant example of upcycling and responsible design. Brought to you by Combo Colab[19] of the United States, and the 91 Kickstarter backers[20] who helped this project get off the ground, Xtool is a stackable storage tool, inspired by old milk-crates used as stools. The Xtool uses up to 95% recycled plastic, with baltic birch plywood legs and lids. Shown here with optional seating pads.